Objective: To investigate the value of tumor perfusion parameter measured by using double contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCEUS) QontraXt three-dimensional pseudocolor quantitative analysis to the therapeutic effect evaluation of preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients. Methods: Eighty-nine AGC patients underwent 3 cycles of preoperative NAC (XELOX) followed by complete resection of lesion. The DCEUS QontraXt three-dimensional pseudocolor was performed one or two weeks before the NAC and operation were applied, respectively. The peak enhancement (PE), time to peak (TP), sharpness of the bolus (β) and area under the enhancement curve (AUC) of primary gastric tumor were measured by QontraXt three-dimensional pseudocolor quantitative analysis. These DCEUS parameters between respond and non-respond groups before and after NAC therapy were compared. The prediction accuracy of DCEUS to the therapeutic effect evaluation of preoperative NAC was determined by the receive operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: Among 89 AGC patients, 52 patients responded to NAC therapy, while 37 patients resisted to NAC therapy. Twelve cases in respond group and 26 cases in non-respond group were mucinous carcinoma. Forty cases in respond group and 11 cases in non-respond group were non-mucinous carcinoma (P<0.05). In responder group, the PE and TP before NAC were (53.7±9.3)% and (14 521±2 667) ms, and (32.2±5.5)% and (17 235±1 898) ms after NAC. The ratio of changes of PE (ΔPE) and TP (ΔTP) were 0.43±0.17 and 0.36±0.14, respectively. In non-respond group, the PE and TP before NAC were (54.4±7.2)% and (13 869±3 247) ms, and (45.3±6.1)% and (15 127±1 423) ms after NAC therapy. The ratio of ΔPE and ΔTP were 0.24±0.20 and 0.22±0.12. The PE and TP after NAC, the ratio of ΔPE and ΔTP were significant different among these two groups (all of P<0.05). The ROC curves showed that the ratio of ΔPE in assessing the respond of gastric cancer patients to NAC was superior compared to other parameters (AUC=0.784, P=0.004). The optimal cut-off value of the ratio of ΔPE was 24% and its sensitivity and specificity to the therapeutic effect evaluation of NAC in gastric cancer were 82.7% and 64.9%. Conclusion DCEUS QontraXt three-dimensional pseudocolor quantitative analysis might be a novel, noninvasive and reliable method to evaluate the therapeutic effect of preoperative NAC in AGC patients.

Objective To compare the accuracy of double contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCEUS) and multi-detector row CT (MDCT) in determining the gross classification in patients with gastric carcinoma (GC) preoperatively.Methods 239 patients with GC proved by endoscopic biopsy were included.DCEUS (intravenous microbubbles combined with oral contrast-enhanced ultrasound) and MDCT were performed preoperatively.The diagnostic accuracy of DCEUS and MDCT in determining gross classification was calculated and compared.Results The overall accuracy of DCEUS in determining the gross appearance of GC was higher than that of MDCT (85％ vs.80％,P ＜ 0.05);there was no significant difference in accuracy between DCEUS and MDCT for Borrmann Ⅰ and Ⅳ classification of AGC (x2 =1.175,P =0.323 for type Ⅰ;x2 =2.171,P =0.141 for type Ⅳ);the accuracy of DCEUS for EGC,Borrmann Ⅱ and Ⅲ classification of GC was higher than that of MDCT (x2 =16.307,P =0.000 for EGC;x2 =39.950,P =0.000 for type Ⅱ;x2 =35.770,P =0.000 for type Ⅲ).Conclusion DCEUS is valuable in determining gross typing of gastric adenocarcinoma preoperatively.

Objective To discuss the value of double contrast-enhanced ultrasound(DCEUS) as a method to predict the pathologic grade of regression to preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC) in advanced gastric cancer(AGC) patients,the contrast parameters of gastric carcinoma were measured and its correlation with pathologic response degree was analyzed.Methods Fifty seven patients with endoscopic biopsy-proven AGC were considered for a complete resection of the lesion and had a DCEUS prior to and following XELOX pre-operative NAC therapy for 3 cycles.The arrival time (AT),time-to-peak (TTP), baseline intensity(BI) and peak intensity(PI) of the primary gastric tumor were measured.The enhanced intensity(EI)was defined as PI minus BI.The percentage of change of DCEUS parameters before and after NAC therapy and its correlation with phathologic grades of regression was calculated.Patients were divided into responder and nonreponder group according to different pathologic response grade.The differences of DCEUS parameters between two groups were compared.The diagnostic accuracy of DCEUS in prediction of benefit from preoperative NAC was represented by means of receive operating characteristic(ROC)curves. Results After NAC,the PI and EI values of local gastric cancer were significantly lower than before NAC. There were significant differences in PI and EI after NAC between the responder and nonresponder groups. Among the DCEUS parameters showed significant correlation with pathologic grade of regression,the correlation factor was highest in percentage of EI reduction of primary gastric tumor(ρ= -0.501 ,P =0.007).When the optimal cutoff value of EI reduction rate of gastric tumor determined was 27%,a sensitivity of 81 .8% and specificity of 66.7% were achieved.Conclusions DCEUS might be a novel, noninvasive,liable and potential method to select the benefit responder from the preoperative NAC in AGC patient.

Objective To evaluate the microcirculation abnormalities in the patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM). Methods Twenty patients with HCM and 20 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Two-dimensional images on the apical four-chamber, two-chamber and long-axis views, including 5 cardiac cycles before 'flash' and 15 cardiac cycles after 'flash', were reeorded and stored for off-line analysis in EchoPAC workstation. Then,contrast time-intensity curves were obtained for each available left ventrieular segment. Results There were significant differences in the A,k and the product A×k between the hypertrophic wall segments (P = 0.01, P<0.001, P = 0.036,respectively) and nonhypertrophic wall segments (P<0.001,respectively) and healthy subjects. A,k and the product A×k in hypertrophic wall segments were significantly different from those in nonhypertrophic wall segments in patients with HCM (P = 0.021, P = 0.016, P = 0. 001,respectively). Accordingly,the normalized value of A and the product A × k were lower in hypertrophied wall segments (P = 0.031, P<0.001, respectively) and nonhypertrophied wall segments(P = 0.002, P<0.001,respectively) in patients with HCM than those in normal segments of healthy controls. The normalized value of A and the product A × k were lower in hypertrophic wall segments than nonhypertrophic wall segments in patients with HCM(P = 0.045, P = 0.021,respectively). Conclusions Myocardial contrast echocardiography is a useful method to investigate myocardial perfusion abnormalities in patients with HCM.

The present study evaluated the application of three dimensional echocardigraphy (3DE) in the diagnosis of atrial septal defect (ASD) and the measurement of its size by 3DE and compared the size with surgical findings. Two-dimensional and real-time three dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) was performed in 26 patients with atrial septal defect, and the echocardiographic data were compared with the surgical findings. Significant correlation was found between defect diameter by RT3DE and that measured during surgery (r=0.77, P<0.001). The defect area changed significantly during cardiac cycle. Percentage change in defect size during cardiac cycle ranged from 6%-70%. Our study showed that the size and morphology of atrial septal defect obtained with RT3DE correlate well with surgical findings. Therefore, RT3DE is a feasible and accurate non-invasive imaging tool for assessment of atrial septal size and dynamic changes.
Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/*diagnosis ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/*pathology ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/surgery ; Young Adult

The present study evaluated the application of three dimensional echocardigraphy (3DE) in the diagnosis of atrial septal defect (ASD) and the measurement of its size by 3DE and compared the size with surgical findings.Two-dimensional and real-time three dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) was performed in 26 patients with atrial septal defect,and the echocardiographic data were compared with the surgical findings.Significant correlation was found between defect diameter by RT3DE and that measured during surgery (r=0.77,P<0.001).The defect area changed significantly during cardiac cycle.Percentage change in defect size during cardiac cycle ranged from 6%-70%.Our study showed that the size and morphology of atrial septal defect obtained with RT3DE correlate well with surgical findings.Therefore,RT3DE is a feasible and accurate non-invasive imaging tool for assessment of atrial septal size and dynamic changes.

Objective To evaluate the dyssynchrony of left ventricle in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy by two-dimensional speckle-tracking strain (2DS) and tissue velocity imaging (TVI).Methods Study population consisted of 37 dilated cardiomyopathy patients. High frame rate two-dimensional images were recorded from the left ventricular short-axis views at the levels of mitral annulus,papillary muscles and apex, and the apical four-chamber view, two-chamber view and long-axis of the left ventricle. The time to peak myocardial longitudinal systolic velocity was measured by TVI, 2DS was acquired to measure the time to peak radial strain in the short axis and the time to peak longitudinal strain inthe long axis,left ventricular synchronization index (△T) was defined as the difference of the time to peak value between anterior septum and posterior wall. Results △T measured by 2DS on the long axis and the short axis increased significantly compared with TVI(P<0.01) in the basal segment; 2DS on the short axis had a more significantly increased △T than TVI(P<0.01) in the middle segment. △T measured by 2DS on the short axis significantly increased in the basal and middle segment compared with 2DS on the long axis(P<0.05). Dyssynchrony eases and the detection rate of dyssynchrony measured by 2DS on the long axis were significantly higher than 2DS on the short axis and TVI(P<0.01). Dyssynchrony cases and the detection rate measured by 2DS on the short axis were higher than those measured by TVI, but the difference had no statistical significance. Conclusions The dyssynchrony detection rate measured by longitudinal strain of 2DS is significantly higher than TVI and radial strain.

Objective To assess the myocardial strain in patients with coronary artery disease by two dimensional strain echocardiography.Methods Forty-three patients with coronary artery disease and thirty five healthy subjects were included.High frame rate two-dimensional images were recorded from the left ventricular short-axis views at the levels of mitral annulus,papillary muscle and apex,and the apical four chamber view,two-chamber view and long-axis view of the left ventricle respectively.The longitudinal strain was measured in the apical views,radial strain and circumferential strain were measured in the left ventricular short-axis views using two-dimensional strain software.Results There were 96 segments whose flow was provided by coronary artery with stenosis＜75%,147 segments whose flow was provided by coronary artery with stenosis≥75%.The peak systolic longitudinal strain of different segments in patients with stenosis≥75% significantly reduced when compared with the control group(P＜0.05).The peak systolic radial strain and circumferential strain of different segments in patients with stenosis≥75% had no statistical difference compared with the control group(P＞0.05).When taking peak systolic longitudinal strain≥-16.1% as cut-off value for coronary artery stenosis of≥75%,the sensitivity and specificity were 78.7% and 76.4% respectively.There was no significant difference in systolic longitudinal strain,radial strain and circumferential strain between normal myocardium and stenosis＜75%(P＞0.05).Conclusions Although there are no evident regional wall motion abnormalities by two dimensional echocardiography,in patients with severe coronary artery stenosis,the longitudinal strain which can reflect the subendocardial myocardial function significantly reduced.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between carotid atherosclerotic plaques stability and the clinical symptoms of carotid atherosclerosis by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. Methods Fifty patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques were examed with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography,the contrast agent visualization of the carotid atherosclerotic plques were analyzed and compared with their clinical symptoms. Results Twenty-three patients who suffered from obvious clinical symptom were entirely visualized. Twenty-weven patients had not apparent clinical symptom,of these patients,15 were sparse visualized,there was no visualization in other 12 patients. Conclusions Conlrast enhanced ultrasonography can real-time observe microcirculation in carotid atherosclerotic piques,and assess the stability of carotid atherosclerotic plaques.